Abstract
The effect of a somatostatin analogue, SMS 201–995 (SMS), on antral gastrin cell hyperplasia (AGH) and hypergastrinemia associated with 14-day administration of the histamine H2-receptor antagonist (H2-RA) famotidine was studied in rats. When the famotidine group was compared with the control group, the antral gastrin cell (G-cell) number was significantly increased (p < 0.01) by approximately twofold, and the serum gastrin level was significantly increased (p < 0.01) by approximately sixfold. When the famotidine + SMS group was compared with the famotidine group, the G-cell number was significantly decreased (p < 0.01) by approximately 30%, and the serum gastrin level was significantly decreased (p < 0.01) by approximately 40%. These findings suggest that SMS may be useful for inhibiting AGH and hypergastrinemia induced by long-term H2-RA administration.